Key case



Oct. 12, 1948. KAMINER 2,451,093

KEY CASE Filed March 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l BERNARD I'LKAMINER ZINVENTOR.

- f BY W flwm/ ATTORNEY Oct. 12, 1948.

B. H. KAMIN ER KEY CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1946 R E m M AK H A N R E B INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY BYW Patented Oct. 12, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY CASEBernard H. Kaminer, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application March 25, 1946, SerialNo. 656,967

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a key case having a pivotally mounted cover inwhich keys are pivotally mounted and whereby the keys are projected fromthe receptacle when the cover is swung into open position.

An object of this invention is to form the receptacle and key carryingcover so that when the keys are projected therefrom the receptacle mayassume an angular position to one of the keys when the key is in thelock.

Another object of this invention is to provide hinge means for pivotallymounting the cover on the receptacle and to provide resiliently actuatedcatch means opposite the hinge means and whereby the cover may beautomatically locked on the receptacle.

Another object of this invention is to slot the cover along one of itsupright sides and along more than half the length of its top wall so asto permit a key to swing outwardly from the receptacle when the cover isopened and to permit the cover to be locked to the receptacle while thekey is projecting in operating position outside the receptacle.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will behereinafter more particularly described, and the combination andarrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, inwhich;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the key case in closed position.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the key case with the cover in openposition.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the key case with the cover swung openinto right-angular relation with the receptacle.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View of the key case shown in Figures 1 to3, inclusive, the section being taken as on line 44 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view of a fragmentary portion of the key case showing thecatch means in operating position.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the catch means.

Figure '7 is a view of a fragmentary portion of the key case showing thehinge means in operating position.

Figure 8 is an end view of a modified key case showing the covercentrally slotted along two adjacent walls.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the key case shown in Figure 8. I

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the key case shown in Figures 8 and 9,the cover being partly broken away.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral It!indicates a key case comprising a receptacle ll preferably ofrectangular crosssection. The receptacle H has an opening l2 at itsupper end.

Keys l3 are pivotally mounted in face-to-face relation on a pivot [4 ina hollow cover l5. The cover I5 is pivotally mounted on the receptacleII on a hinge l6 and may be swung into open or closed position withrelation to the receptacle H. The keys may be withdrawn from thereceptacle Ti through the opening 12 by swinging the cover [5 on thehinge 16. A coil spring I1 is mounted on the pintle of the hinge l6 andis arranged to cause the cover to automatically swing into openposition.

The receptacle II has catch means [8 secured to the wall l9 opposite thehinge 16. The catch means 18 comprises a leaf spring 20, the lower endof which is suitably fixed to the wall H], such as by rivet 2|. Theupper end of the leaf spring 20 has an angularly bent portion 22 facingoutwardly of the receptacle. The free end of the leaf spring 20 isbeveled. The cover I5 has a lip 24 positioned horizontally at the lineof contact 25 between the cover and the receptacle.

The leaf spring 20 has a push button 26 fixed thereto in any suitablemanner, such as by riveting its inner end to the leaf spring 20-. Thewall 19 has an aperture 21 through which the body of the push button 26passes outwardly of the receptacle 1 l. The push button has a roundedouter end against which the user applies pressure to force the leafspring inwardly to .permit the cover IE to swing into open position.

As best shown in Figure 4, the pivot M has a cylindrical body 30 onwhich the keys are pivotally mounted. The body 39 passes through anaperture 3! in the cover [5. The body 30 has a threaded end portion 32of smaller diameter than the cylindrical body, the pivot [4 beingthreadably secured in a threaded aperture 33 in the cover [5, inalignment with the aperture 3|.

The aperture 3| and 33 serve as bearings for the pivot M. It is to benoted that the pivot I4 is positioned parallel to the line of contact 25between the cover and the receptacle.

Figures 8 to 10, inclusive, show a modified key case 35, comprising areceptacle or hollow body H and a hollow cover 36, pivotally mounted on3 the receptacle on a hinge Hi. The cover 36 is similar to the cover [5,but in addition is slotted centrally of the key case at 31, along theentire length of one of its upright sides.

The slot 31 extends from the line of contact 25 between the cover andthe receptacle and terminates in the upper wall 38 of the cover 36 at apoint beyond the pivot [4 to permit the key l3 to project in operatingposition outside the receptacle-i and in right: angular: relation withthe receptacle.

' In the position shown in Figure 10 the key I3 is indicated as insertedinto the ignition lock 3.95 of an automobile, the body of the key casehanging vertically from the pivot I 4 in the head" of the key l3. Thereceptacle is in opera-ting: position, held in depending relation fromthe keyv I 3.

It is to be noted that the slot 31 is centrally" positioned in relationto the key case and..that' the slot is preferably made wider than one ofa made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention asdefinedv by the appended claims. f

I'claim: I H ll-In a pocket size key case, a receptacle. of rectangularcross-section and comprising; two narrow end'walls and two wide sidewalls respectively lying in parallel planes, said walls being soli-d'andnon-separable and having an opening at its upper end, a cover havingbearing means centrally thereof and being hin'gedly mounted on saidreceptacle at said open end, saidhingelbeing mounted on one of said end)walls to cause saidcover. to swing clear of said receptacle, said coverbeingof a size to close said opening,.catch. means secured to said caseon the side opposite saidhing'e. to automatically lock said cover onsaid-receptacle, key-carrying means detachably: mounted in 'saidbearingmeans, said key-carry ing' means being positioned transverselyofzsaidl cover to permit said keys to swing outwardly from saidreceptacle when said cover is. swung into. open position, said keysbeing movable into con- 4 cealed relation within said receptacle whensaid cover is moved into closing position, said cover being centrallyslotted on two adjacent sides to,

permit the body of one of said keys to project in operating positionoutside said receptacle with the head of said key projecting outside theboundaries of said cover While said receptacle is held in dependingrelation from said key.

2. In a pocket size key case, a receptacle of rectangular: cross-sectionand:' comprising two narrow end wallsand two'side walls lying inparallel planes, said walls being integral and non-separable, saidreceptacle having an opening at-its upper end, a cover of rectangularcrosssection having bearing means centrally thereof,

'saidi cover'being hingedly mounted on said receptaclel at. said openend, said hinge being mounted on one of said end walls to cause saidcoverto swing clear of said receptacle, said cover being of a size toclose said opening, catch means secured to.said case onthelsideloppcsitesaid hinge, toautomatically. lockl' saidfcover. on said receptacle,threaded key-carrying means de tachably. mounted, in; said bearingfmeans," said key-carrying means being positioned'to permit 2 REFERE SCITED I v I The following referencesare of recordlin the file:ofthispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date;

Great Britain Nov. 5,1936

